US rules out mediatory role on Kashmir issue

Lalit K Jha
Washington, July 2 (PTI) Categorically ruling out any
mediatory role on the Kashmir issue, the Obama Administration
has said it wants India and Pakistan to address the issue in a
way that eases tension between the two South Asian neighbours,
which it believes is crucial to promote regional peace.

"The United States is not looking for mediation role,
but rather we want India and Pakistan to be able to address
these issues in a way that eases tensions, because we think it
is really in benefit of both countries and also for promoting
regional stability," National Security Council spokesman Mike
Hammer told PTI.

National Security Council is the inter-agency
coordination body of the White House. It is headed by General
James Jones, who was recently in India, Pakistan and
Afghanistan.

Hammer said issues regarding tension between India and
Pakistan came up for discussion during the week-long trip of
Jones to the region, but US reiterated its stand that this has
to be handled by New Delhi and Islamabad alone and that the
United States has no mediatory role in it.

"We have had of course opportunities to discuss
relationship between India and Pakistan. It is in our interest
in seeing that the meetings that (Indian) Prime Minister had
with (Pakistani) President (Asif Ali) Zardari in Russia
continue in the sense that it is important for both country to
engage in a dialogue and to try to ease tensions," he said.

"We are encouraged by that and we hope that both
countries would continue that effort," said Hammer who
accompanied General Jones to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Noting that there is a common interest between India
and the US in trying to bring peace and stability in Pakistan
and Afghanistan, he said there are some specific issues, which
relate bilaterally between India and Pakistan including
Kashmir.

"On Kashmir, as I stated previously, we are not
looking for mediation role," he asserted and added that that
is for India and Pakistan to address on their own.

"In relation to issues of terrorism, I can assure you
that was discussed both in India and Pakistan. We feel that
both countries, India and Pakistan are committed to combating
terrorism and we just need to ensure that attacks like what
happened in Mumbai do not reoccur," Hammer said.

"I think those points were made loud and clear during
our visit there - our concerns about the security situation in
the region and in working together to avert any kind of
terrorist act or activities," Hammer said.

The spokesman said the United States would welcome any
measures that each country can take to ease tensions and to
improve the dialogue between the two countries.

"It is important for the security and stability of the
region that India and Pakistan overcome some of the historical
difficulties and tensions that we have seen in the past,"
Hammer said. PTI